The Good Fight: The Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War: Audiotapes
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The Good Fight, a feature-length documentary film released in 1983, pays homage to American volunteers who served with the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. The Good Fight: The Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War: Audiotapes (1937-1988) includes audio recordings of interviews, events, narration, radio broadcasts, and other audio used in the production of the film.
Historical Note
The Good Fight, a feature-length documentary film released in 1983, pays homage to American volunteers who served with the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. The film is an exploration of the political motives that compelled the volunteers to travel to Spain in the 1930s, their weathering of anti-communist sentiment during the 1940s and 50s, and their political engagement in later life. The film makes extensive use of archival footage from the war, stills, primary documents, radio broadcasts, newsreels, and interviews. With the help of an NEH grant, filmmakers Noel Buchner, Mary Dore and Sam Sills interviewed more than 125 combat and medical veterans in the course of researching and editing the film. The final documentary, which is narrated by Studs Terkel, features eleven veterans including Bill Bailey, Steve Nelson, Milt Wolff, Edward Balchowsky, Salaria Kee (a.k.a. Salaria Kea) O'Reilly and Evelyn Hutchins.
Arrangement
This collection is organized into three series:
Series I. Interviews
Series II. Event Recordings
Series III. Source Audio
Scope and Contents
The Good Fight: The Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War: Audiotapes (1937-1988) includes audio recordings of "pre-interviews" with volunteers, most of whom were later interviewed on film; event recordings, including Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade National Conferences, group meetings, and memorials; and other audio recordings used in the production of the film, such as Studs Terkel's narration, radio broadcasts, musical recordings, speeches, and sound samples.
This collection includes interviews across multiple audio formats for some interviewees; it is unclear whether these are separate interviews or duplicative content.
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; The Good Fight: The Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War: Audiotapes; ALBA AUDIO 216; box number; folder number or item identifier; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Good Fight: the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War: Production Materials was donated to Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives in 1983 by filmmakers Noel Buchner, Mary Dore and Sam Sills. This collection came to New York University in January 2001 as part of the original acquisition of ALBA collections, formerly housed at Brandeis University.
Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures
Access to some audiovisual materials in this collection is available through digitized access copies. Researchers may view an item's original container, but the media themselves are not available for playback because of preservation concerns. Materials that have already been digitized are noted in the collection's finding aid and can be requested in our reading room.
Audiovisual materials that have not been preserved may not be available to researchers. Materials not yet digitized will need to have access copies made before they can be used. To request an access copy, or if you are unsure if an item has been digitized, please contact Tamiment Library and Wagner Labor Archives, special.collections@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596, with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A staff member will respond to you with further information.
About this Guide
Processing Information
In 2022, a student worker created an inventory, listing individual oral history interviews recorded on audiocassette tapes (stored in approximately 4.5 boxes).
In August 2024 the rest of the collection was inventoried, including open reel audio reels and access CDs, and the collection was arranged into series.
Revisions to this Guide
Repository
Series I. Interviews, 1979-1988, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Series I. Interviews (1979-1988) includes interviews and "pre-interviews" with volunteers, most of whom were later interviewed on film. This series includes interviews across multiple audio formats for some interviewees; it is unclear whether these are separate interviews or duplicative content.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by the interviewee's last name.
Frank Alexander, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Joseph Azar, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Ed Balchowsky, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
Bill Bailey, September 15, 1981 - January 19, 1983, inclusive
#1, September 15, 1981
#2, September 15, 1981
#3, September, 1981
#4, September, 1981
#5, September 16, 1981
#6, September 16, 1981
#7, September 16, 1981
#8, September, 1981
#9, September, 1981
#10, September 18, 1981
#11, September 18, 1981
#12, September 18, 1981
II #2, undated
II #3, undated, inclusive
II #4, undated
II #5, undated
III, January 17, 1983
III, January 17-18, 983, inclusive
III, January 18, 1983
III, January 18-19, 1983, inclusive
III, January 19, 1983
III, January 19, 1983
Audio recording, undated, inclusive
Audio recording, undated, inclusive
Audio recording, undated, inclusive
Audio recording, undated, inclusive
Hilda Bell Roberts, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Ed Bender, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Alvah Bessie, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Ester Silverstein Blanc, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Audio recording
Lou Bortz, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
George Brodsky, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Archie Brown, May 10, 1988
Audio recording
Access CD
Paul Burns, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Albert Edward Chisholm, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Audio recording
Audio recording
Tedd Cogswell, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Milt Cohen, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Robert Colodny, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Maury Colow, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
B. Colow, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Jerry Cook, April 5, 1979
Audio recording, April 5, 1979
Audio recording, April 5, 1979
Audio recording, April 5, 1979
Audio recording, April 5, 1979
Audio recording, April 5, 1979
Audio recording, April 5, 1979
Scope and Contents
Also includes Weisman.
Rudy Corbin, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
James Crooks, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Ruth Davidow, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
#4
Audio recording
Audio recording
Tony DeMaio, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Lini DeVries, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Becky Durem, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Muriel and Richard Eldridge, June, 1988
Scope and Contents
Interviewed by Carlos Gonzalez.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
No analog original present for this access CD.
Max Farrar, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Ralph Fasanella, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2, Pete Smith #1
Harry Fisher and John Rody, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Audio recording
Moe Fishman, April 4, 1979
Irving Frankel, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Bill Gandall, May, 1988
Scope and Contents
Interviewed by Carlos Gonzalez.
Scope and Contents
No analog original present for this access CD.
Carl Geiser, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#2
#3
#4
Henry Giler, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Robert Gladnick, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Audio recording
Howard Goddard, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Irving Goff, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
Irving Gold, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Butch Goldstein, September 29, 1981 - March 23, 1982, inclusive
#1, September 29, 1981
#2, September 29, 1981
#3, September 30, 1981
#4, September 30, 1981
#5, September 30, 1981
#6, September 30, 1981
#7, Abe Osheroff #1, September 30, 1981
#1, March 23, 1982
#2, March 23, 1982
#3, March 23, 1982
#4, March 23, 1982
#5, March 23, 1982
#6, March 23, 1982
#1, undated
#2, undated
#3, undated
Sam Gonshak, 1981
Audio recording
Audio recording
Ken Graeber, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
Jack Hartzman and May Hartzman, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Manny Harriman, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Joe Hautaniemi, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Gus Heisler and Ray Marantz, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#2
#3
Hemingway, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Ben Holtzman, September 2, 1980
#1
#2
#3
#4
Audio recording, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
John Houseman, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
Oscar Hunter, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
#4
Evelyn Hutchins, September 2 - 26, 1981, inclusive
#1, September 26, 1981
#2, September 26, 1981
#3, September 26, 1981
#4, September 26, 1981
#5, September 26, 1981
#6, September 26, 1981
#7, September 26, 1981
#8, September 26, 1981
#1, undated
#2, undated
#3, September 2, 1980
#4, undated
#5, undated
Ben Iceland, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Robert Ingalls and Brooke Carmichael, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Toby Jensky, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Sid Kaufman and Duncan Keir, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
George Kaye, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Admiral "Kil" Kilpatrick, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Leonard Lamb, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#2
#3
#4
Art Landis, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2, Al Tanz #1
Ed Lending, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Audio recording
Rose Leopold, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
A note on the disc says, "Original tape says 'Rose Leopold' but Courtney thinks it is Malbin / Polishuk."
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
No analog original present for this access CD.
Leonard Levenson, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Sid Linn, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Tom Lloyd, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Vaughn Love, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio
Don MacCleod, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Seema Matlin Goddard, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Matti Mattson, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Bill McCarthy, 1981
#1, Demonstration #2, September 19, 1981
#2, September 19, 1981
#3, September 19, 1981
#4, September 19, 1981
#5, September 19, 1981
#6, September 19, 1981
Audio recording
Audio recording
Luchell McDaniel, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Art Munday, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Virginia Malbin, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Interview by Sandy Polishuk.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
12 CDs total. No analog originals present for these access CDs.
Carl Marzoni, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Curly Mende, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Bill Miller, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Irving Mitchel, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Sidney Narris, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Steve Nelson, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
Harry Nobel, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
Marion Noble, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Charlie Nusser, 1980
Audio recording
Audio recording
Charles O'Flanerty, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Pat O'Reilly, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Salaria Kea O'Reilly, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
Audio recording
Existence and Location of Copies
A copy of this interview is also available in ALBA 226; see audiocassettes 226-059 and 226-061.
Audio
Audio recording
Existence and Location of Copies
A copy of this interview is also available in ALBA 226; see audiocassettes 226-059 and 226-061.
Audio
Abe Osheroff, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#2, October 4, 1981
#3, October 4, 1981
#4, October 4, 1981
#5, October 4, 1981
#6, October 4, 1981
#7, October 4, 1981
#1, undated, inclusive
#2, undated
#3, undated
#4, undated
#5, undated
#6, undated
#1, undated
#2, undated
#3, undated
#4, Isadore Tivin and Fred Keller #1, undated
Thomas Page, June 23, 1982
#1, June 23, 1982
#2, June 23, 1982
#3, June 23, 1982
Audio recording, undated, inclusive
Audio recording, undated, inclusive
Audio recording, undated, inclusive
Audio recording, undated, inclusive
Al Prago, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
#4, Gus Heisler and Ray Marantz #1
Gabriel "Jack" Quiñones, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Nick Pappas, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
Digital access copy, undated
Stanley Postek, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
#4
Mildred Rackley Simon, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Bob Reed, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Al Robbins, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
#4, Bob Steck #1
Will Roger Jr. -- 2nd Take, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Mary Rolfe, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Edna Romer, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Patrick Roosevelt, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Gabby Rosenstein, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
John Rossen, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Bernard Rucker, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3, Carl Geiser #1
Bill Sennett, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Ken Shaker, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Elias Schultz, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Ben Sills, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Audio recording
Pete Smith, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#2
#3
#4, Leonard Lamb #1
Rose Sorkin and Michael Shantzek, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Morris Stamm, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Fred Stanley, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
Bob Steck, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#2
#3
#4
#5
Bill Susman, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
Bob Taylor, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Dave Thompson, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
#4
Audio recording
Audio recording
Ralph Thornton, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Isadore Tivin and Fred Keller, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#2
#3
Earl Vail, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Bill Van Felix, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
Theodore Velfort, May, 1988
Scope and Contents
Interviewed by Carlos Gonzalez.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
No analog original present for this interview.
George Watt, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Alex Weinerman, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Weissman, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Saul Wellman, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Bill Wheeler, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Milt Wolff, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
II #1
II #2
II #3
II #4
II #5, Bill Bailey II #1
Audio recording
Audio recording
Audio recording
Jimmy Yates, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recording
Audio recording
Joe Zanadowski and Paul Lutka, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Series II. Event Recordings, 1966-1973, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Series II. Event Recordings (1966-1973) contains event recordings, including Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade National Conferences, group meetings, and memorials.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically. Undated materials are arranged alphabetically.
Vets of Lincoln Brigade Group Meeting about Vietnam, August 9, 1966
Scope and Contents
Recording includes John Toutloff, Moe Fishman, Mark Alper, and John Koblick.
Memorial Meeting at Prince George Hotel, NY, December 6, 1970
VALB Meeting at YMCA, November, 1972
VALB National Conference YWCA, NY, February 11, 1973
Reel 1
Reel 2
Jackson's performance, USA (США, Выступление Джексона), undated
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically. Undated materials are arranged alphabetically.
VALB CCNY #1: National Anthem, Alice Chadler, Jennie Chakin, Intro remarks, undated
VALB CCNY #2: Colodny, Philip Foner, undated
VALB CCNY #3: Foner, Joseph Lash, Abraham Raskin, undated
VALB CCNY #4: Pete Smith, Jennie Chakin, undated
VALB CCNY #5: Jeanette Mendelson Dean, Herb Freeman, undated
VALB #6 Poetry readings: Pete Smith, Janine Hamilton, Edith Segal, Al Prago, undated
VALB #7 Poetry readings: Al Prago, M. Meehan, Jim Lally, Joe Doyle, Bob Steich, undated
VALB #8 Poetry readings: Bob Steich, Pete Smith, Janine Hamilton, Yates, undated
VALB #9 Poetry readings: Bob Steich, Geiser, Prago, undated
VALB #10 Poetry readings: Al Prago, song, Pete Smith, undated
VALB #11 Poetry readings: Pete Smith, Dorothy Ibarucci speech, undated
VALB 25th Anniversary, Lester Gittelson, undated
The Winds of the People, A Memorial Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Spanish Civil War, undated
Series III. Source Audio, 1937-1983, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Series III. Source Audio (1937-1983) includes other audio recordings used in the production of the film, such as Studs Terkel's narration, radio broadcasts, musical recordings, speeches, and sound samples.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically.
Abraham Lincoln Brigade Film Project, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Audio recordings
Audio recordings
Audio recordings
Audio recordings
Abraham Lincoln Brigade Film Project -- Music Ideas, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Abraham Lincoln Brigade Film Project -- Music Session 1, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Abraham Lincoln Brigade Film Project -- Music Session 2, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Abraham Lincoln Brigade Film Project -- Music Session 3, 1983
Abraham Lincoln Brigade -- Music, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Al Toca Piańa, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
"As It Happens," CBC Radio, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
ALB Master Takes: Hemingway Speech (1947), National Archives, Renner's International, undated
ALB Songs, undated
British Movietone: Leon Bloom, Toledo Dead, Geinberg, undated
Dartmouth History Panel, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Broadcast Recording -- KPFK, KPFA, WBAI, April 17, 1962
Tape 1
Tape 2
El Salvador Demo, March 27, 1982
Audio recording
Audio recording
El Salvador Rally in Washington DC, 1982
Audio recording
Boarding bus, vets on bus
March with vets, lots of clapping
Vets on bus
From Vincent Voice Library, Coughlin, undated
Hellerman: "The Internationale", circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Hemingway, "To the Spanish Dead"
Hemingway tribute to vets, undated
Interview with Moe Fishman and Louise Pettibone Smith on Barry Farber Show, June 30, 1964
Interview with two Americans who fought in Spain (one Loyalist, one Rebel), March 20, 1938
Isolationist Songs: Huey Long, Harry Williams, Mr. District Attorney " The Case of the Unknown Source", undated
Italian songs, undated
La Brigada Internacional -- David Rees, undated
"Lincoln Brigade" Coleen Dewhurst, undated
Martha Gellhorn talks about the Abraham Lincoln Brigade (radio broadcast from Madrid), October 7, 1939
Martha Gellhorn talks about life in Madrid during the war (radio broadcast from Madrid), April 19, 1937
Max Parker: Three Songs, undated
Meeting of Veterans and their families at Times Sq. Hotel, Part of broadcast on WKCR by Tana de Gamez and Moe Fisher, 1969
Moe, KPFK, August, 1968
Music from Brandeis, undated, inclusive
Tape A: Spain 1936-1939, 25 Hymns
Language of Materials
Tape B: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939, Men and Events of the 20th Century, Nationalist and Republican Voices and Songs
Language of Materials
Tape C: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939, Men and Events of the 20th Century, Nationalist and Republican Voices and Songs
Pete Seeger Concert, Dartmouth, April 17, 1981
Concert
Interview, concert
Transfer tape of Seeger's song with Vets, Rumbalala
Radio Clip -- McDonald, undated
Radio Clip -- Spanish Civil War, undated
Saint Saens Marche Heroique, circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Spanish Civil War Items from Reveille Museum, undated
Spanish Civil War Radio Clip from CBC, Ernest Hemingway introduction and "New Masses," "On the American Dead in Spain", undated
Studs Terkel narrating Abraham Lincoln Brigade #1, undated
Studs Terkel narrating Abraham Lincoln Brigade #2, undated
Studs Terkel narrating Abraham Lincoln Brigade #3, undated
Studs Terkel narrating Abraham Lincoln Brigade #4, undated
Studs Terkel narrating Abraham Lincoln Brigade #5, undated
Studs Terkel narrating Abraham Lincoln Brigade #6, undated
Studs Terkel narrating Abraham Lincoln Brigade #7, undated
"They Shall Not Pass", circa 1980-1983, inclusive
Tones -- 3 Cymbal Hits, August 4, 1983
Untitled ALBA Tape, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
This tape features Steve Nelson (intro), Bob Steck, Tana de Gamez, Mike Glick (guitar), Moe Fishman, Maurice Bryer, Josefina Lang, Bill Chaleff, and Carey McWilliams.